Stack and Pack Totes

ABSTRACT

The subject invention comprises a tote with a handle profiled with a void to allow other totes to nest and latch when stacked on like configured totes. The grip in the handle of the top tote becomes the lifting device for the tote(s) under it. The units may be used either together or separately for storage and transport of material or stored as a column of totes when stacked.

REFERENCES CITED

2552929 May, 1957 Bodkin 220/766 4038719 August, 1977 Bennet  16/4305046636 September, 1991 Coshery 220/571 5117979 June, 1992 Brightbill206/372 5145082 September, 1992 Craft, Jr., et al 220/755 6145662November, 2000 Newton 206/373 6693537 February, 2004 Frank 340/568.16811068 November, 2004 Johnson 224/404

The subject invention comprises a tote with a handle profiled with avoid to allow other totes to nest and latch when stacked on likeconfigured totes. The grip in the handle of the top tote becomes thelifting device for the tote(s) under it. The units may be used eithertogether or separately for storage and transport of materials or storedas a column of totes when stacked.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to totes with a handle in the centerhaving two four-sided bottom sealed trays on either side of the handleand constructed of any material which is suitable to carry parts,supplies, samples, or tools at a work site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Totes with tool tray(s) are well known in the industry. The totes arerectangular containers with a handle located in the center above thetrays and usually attached to the tray ends. Samples, parts, materials,or tools can be placed in the trays and be moved about the work siteusing the handgrip incorporated in the handle. Some plastic totes areconfigured to stack together when empty for easy storage, the unitsnesting one in the other.

The above configuration is well known and accepted in industry and workswell, but presents certain limitations and shortcomings. One obviousshortcoming is a maximum of only two totes can be carried by at a timeusing both hands. A second shortcoming lies in the fact that if thetotes must be empty before they are stacked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the subject invention a tote is provided with two trays andraised central handle with a handgrip having a space beneath the handleand between the trays, which allows multiple totes to stack one atop theother. The handle features ends configured with latches consisting ofbarbs (hooks) and niches (eyelets). The barbs extend downward so as toengage and latch the niches located on the upper portion of a totehandle beneath (provide with the same configuration as the handle above)and placed beneath in the profiled passageway of the upper tote. Bothtotes are latched and can now be lifted as a unit using the uppermosttote handle, thus allowing two totes to be carried with one hand.Furthermore, multiple totes that have the same handle configuration canbe stacked and latched. The upper tote trays cover the tote below, whichprevents loss of items or spills. The covering tote can be unlatched byopening the barbs and lifted allowing access the lower tote. Limitingfactors include the height and weight limitations for safe lifting andhandling.

The objective of the invention is to provide a system of totes thatallows multiple totes to be lifted and carried with one hand thusallowing for more tools and/or parts to be conveniently toted throughoutthe work site.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a latch systemof downward pointing hooks with tapered barbs that latch securely intoniches configured to accept them and effectively latch the unitstogether by simply stacking the totes.

An additional objective of the present invention is to allow the totesto be stored neatly and securely in a stacked configuration without lossof utility or storage capacity.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a coveredcondition in the lower trays that allows for transport and storage ofsmall components to be carried throughout the work site withoutspillage.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a tote systemand assembly that can be manufactured out of inexpensive plastics andreadily employed by users.

These objectives and others, which will become apparent to one skilledin the art, are achieved by the preferred embodiment that is describedin detail below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a wooden handled metal tray prototype toteset with attached metal latches and eyelets of the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two prototypical tote units of thesubject invention stacked and latched together.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the stacked units of the subjectinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred plastic tote with exposedlatch barb of the subject invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two preferred plastic units latchedtogether with barbs and niches exposed of the subject invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a tote is shown in a perspective showing a centralhandle 1 with a grip 6 located between two four sided trays 4. The voidcreated by the trays and handle 5 is shown as well as the latch setmechanism of barbs 2 and eyelets 3. The flat tray bottoms 7 are shown inFIG. 3. While the trays are shown as flat bottom rectangular bins, otherconfigurations may be designed and used.

The void 5 is as deep as the handle 1 extends above the trays 4 in orderto admit a like configured tote handle to nest and latch when two ormore totes are utilized as in FIG. 2. As is shown the totes stack andlatch using the hook 2 and eyelet 3 which are spaced accordingly. Thetop tote handle now can be gripped and both totes lifted, the top totecovering the bottom tote.

Referring to FIG. 3, a cross sectional view of two stacked totes showsthe handles 1, grips 6, trays 4, tray walls and bottoms 7, and theoccupied and unoccupied handle voids 5 as seen from the tote ends. Itwill be appreciated that the upper and lower totes nest to form a stablecombined unit when latched together. While the prototype drawn wasconstructed with a wooden handle and metal trays, hooks, and eyelets,other materials may be used.

Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view with the outer tray juxtaposedto show a molded plastic unit is shown to expose the barb and nichelatching mechanism. The handle 1 with grip 6 extends above the trays 4that form the tote. As configured the slot 5 is formed between the traysand beneath the handle.

In FIG. 5, a perspective view of two latched totes is shown. It will beappreciated that the freestanding latched totes can be carried as a unitthroughout the work site using one hand. Also, since the top tote coversthe one(s) underneath, the contents of lower totes are enclosed andcannot spill out in transit.

It is apparent from FIG. 5 that the totes are unlatched by manuallydrawing out the barbs from the niches and lifting thus separating theunits and accessing the contents of the lower unit.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention is describedabove, other embodiments of the present invention obvious to thoseskilled in the art, and which utilize the methods set forth herein areintended to be within the scope of the subject disclosed.

1. A cooperating set of totes consisting of two trays between a handleextending above the trays and with a complementary gap under the handleand along the trays which permits one tote to be stacked upon another.2. A tote set in accordance with claim 1 that has a handle with amatching set of latching mechanisms that engage when one unit is placedatop the other which causes the upper handle barbs or hooks to engageand lock or latch the bottom handle niches or eyelets forming a securedcombination.
 3. A tote set in accordance with claim 2 that form astacked storage unit of multiple totes lifted and ported using the toptray handle.
 4. A tote set in accordance with claim 3 that can beseparately unlatched, lifted and rearranged to access individual totes.